Well, it took 24 years of "on again-off again" building but now its finished. I started the model the day we put the CAMPBELL in commission(I'm a plankowner) in 1988.The model measures 6 feet in length and is scaled at 1:48. The entire model is scratchbuilt from wood (hull, superstructure, deck) and few commercial parts were used. it's powered by two Dumas 12 volt motors as a direct drive system. I had hopes of adding working features such as lights, rotating radar antennas, articulating gun, working anchor but I was just happy to get it finished! it will probably make at least one run at the lake come springtime but the models ultimate "homeport" will be a museum, at 6 feet in length(and 40 pounds of ballast) it's a bear to handle just to get it into the car for transport. Still, I'm happy with the results, it was a model of a lifetime(but I'd never build another one like it)! 😉

In 1963/64 my father built a 34" Fireboat for me. Being only about 12 the job was a little above my knowledge or expertise. Another chap in my class at school had the same boat but rigged as a Fireboat. So I wanted something different.My boat was painted Red.White and Black. When I migrated to Australia I sold the boat about 1970.Earlier this year I had an article published in a Melbourne newspaper saying I was looking to repurchase the boat I had sold 40 years ago. Although I was unable to get my boat, someone had a fireboat that had been sitting around for years.After purchasing the boat, I restored it to the same colours etc that I had had 40 years ago. Thereby naming it Phoenix.

HI has anyone any idea's as to what class this boat is..thanks Stan.

A recent purchase from a buy and sell website, soon for restoration, (along with the rest!!!!!!)

This is pictures of the real boat in action. As soon as I get the outboards for the model it will be operational.It also flows water out of the deck gun.

Still finding my way round the site


Pic of the Sea Queen with Jolie Brise in the background.

Sea Queen will have the wheel chair motor, with Mtronks control.

Joilie Brise is having a new ballast keel cast to lowere C of G and Improve sail power.

This was scratch built apart from the fibre glass hull which I purchased.
Model is 65" long with a beam of 10". Power is by electric running via a gearbox at 300 rpm. Ihave taken almost 2years to complete the model working most days on it. Attention to detail was the order of the day.
I am using a Planet T5 Tx and Rx, 5 channels. I have a smoke generator pushing steam out of the twin funnels,synchronised to forward speed, faster the revs, faster the steam. Conventional rudder operation.
Have an operating Radar, ships horn, simulated steam noise varies as speed is altered, full navigation lights,all cabin lights can be switched on and to keep the 106 passengers happy I have a Banjo Band playing to complete the scene. Have sailed it recently at Peterborough and performs really really well. Have to say it tends to attract a lot of interest.
I am now constructing the Ayton Cross tug in 1:32 scale, with all the detail I want.Plan is to tow the Jeanie Deans around when completed as well assailing her

I have just completed this model - just waiting for the new prop to arrive along with a flag for the main mast, plus handrail staunchions. it was a Precedent all wood kit and not too Impressed with the materials but you only get what you pay for. I have fitted a Graupner 700 Speed Turbo and a Torpedo 50 Amp ESC. I am powering it with 2 6 volt SLA's wired in series. Overall I think it has turned out not too bad and it seemed to get better the more I worked on it (or is that psychlogical)Tested in the Marine testing laboratory (white bath) and floats OK with no sign of a leak (fingers crossed). Our boating pond will be frozen over at the moment so no real testing can take place yet.

Finally finished the project. This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom. it took almost 6 months to complete. 🕊

Finally finished the project. This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom. it took almost 6 months to complete.

This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom.

I love this video, thought you might like to share it, taken at St Helens model boat club lake, which is Taylor Park, Prescot, St Helens, very early before anybody arrived, on a cold sunday morning!
Shortly after this video I changed the motor and prop, I never stop meddling! 😀
*Reposted - now with footage! Stephen*

Early Les Rowell design from the fifties, I think. Last photo is as received.

Two Wavemasters, both refurbished ebay rescues, sailing at Crealy, near Exeter (one of the last times as the club can no longer use the water).
The first, rebuilt by Kalamunda, is brushless with NiMh cells and the second, having it's first sail since being rebuilt by Ian Gardner, has a Graupner 700 with 3s Lipo's (in parallel) on a 37.5mm X type prop- Electronize 30amp esc.
I think these are lovely looking old boats designed by Les Rowell of Aerokits fame, and obviously based on traditional cruisers from the Norfolk Broads- see Martham Boats, where you can still hire a wooden craft like these, although you'd definitely have the river inspector after you if you sailed up the Thurne at these speeds!

This is a 40" long model of a gas powered Berkley Company kit of a US Air Force crash boat from 1955. The plank on frame kit was in production for about 10 years and was meant to be powered by a model airplane gas motor with a single shaft. it depicts an experimental 50 knot rescue boat (painted in a peace time color scheme) during service with the USAF. if successfull it would have been put into production designed to be a replacement rescue craft for all Air Force 65' crash boats. Unfortunately for the crash boat program the Air Force lost interest as helicopters were become a reliable way of rescueing downed pilots along the coast. The prototype and a sister boat were scrapped, as was the entire program.
The model was given to me to be restored(top picture) for the son of a retired USAF veteran that was a crash boat crewman. The model was built in 1957 and had been run a few times on a tether line, R/C was pretty expensive back in the day. I stripped the hull, filled in all the cracks and rebuilt the mast. I added a small boat, davit, liferaft, coxswain station, spray shield and deck hardware among other things. Actually all the owner wanted was a paint job, he was very happy with it's new appearencep! Although I fiberglassed the wooden hull and made it watertight, the owner doesn't plan to run it, just a memorial to his dad's service. I really enjoyed working on this "rare bird".